In a certain bar located in the district.
Until recently, this place was just one of the many common bars scattered throughout the district.
But thanks to a certain incident that took place not too long ago, it suddenly became known as the “holy ground of revolution.”
It all happened because of an event now famously referred to as the “Knight Shin Chronicle Broadcast Revolution.”
Originally, “Knight Shin Chronicle” was an anime with an absurdly cruel broadcast schedule—airing only once a week.
But that was unavoidable.
Anyone who has seen even a single episode of “Knight Shin Chronicle” would understand—it’s an animation masterpiece crafted with tremendous effort. The character movements were so lifelike they could pass for real people, the OST and BGM were mesmerizing, and the voice actors’ performances were soul-stirring.
Such perfection naturally required time to produce, which is why viewers had no choice but to accept the heart-wrenching reality of a weekly episode.
But then, one brave man stood up against this unjust system. His name? Ricardo.
He was the great revolutionary who boldly called for unity among global viewers.
When other fans were merely shaking with frustration after watching the first episode, Ricardo took action. He enlightened fellow viewers at a local tavern and sparked a revolution to spread his vision.
At first, people just laughed at him. But undeterred by the ignorant masses, Ricardo marched to the palace square and proclaimed his cause to the world. Eventually, through dramatic negotiations with the “Knight Shin Chronicle” production team, he succeeded in pushing his agenda.
Thanks to this young revolutionary—who failed art school entrance exams—the show’s broadcast frequency increased from once a week to twice! Word spread quickly across the district.
“Welcome back, we believed in you!”
“You’re a hero, Ricardo!”
“Thank you! You did amazing!”
Ricardo instantly became a hero to all “Knight Shin Chronicle” fans, who flocked daily to the tavern where the revolution began.
Today, on the 17th episode’s airing day, Ricardo and countless fans gathered at this sacred spot, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“It’s almost 9 PM…”
“I don’t know how much I’ve waited for the weekend. Especially during weekdays without ‘Knight Shin Chronicle,’ I suffer withdrawal symptoms.”
“The TV is on! It’s about to start!”
Someone’s announcement caused everyone to focus intently on the screen.
“What new Outsider will Kai defeat today?”
“Not all Outsiders are the same—they each have unique abilities that keep things interesting.”
The Outsiders in “Knight Shin Chronicle” vary greatly in appearance and special powers. For example, the one in Episode 1 resembled a golem with explosive strength, while Episode 5 featured an aerial specialist firing powerful lasers.
Their common trait? The ability to nullify human attacks.
“Why can Outsiders nullify our attacks? And why can Knight Shin pierce through their defenses?”
“I think this mystery will become a major plot twist later in the series. After all, we still haven’t learned how Knight Shin is made.”
“The commander and Chloe always seem suspicious whenever they talk about Knight Shin.”
While discussing these theories, no one took their eyes off the screen.
Episode 17 started calmly like previous episodes, focusing on pilots’ daily lives rather than combat.
Some prefer the intense battles over these quiet moments, but most viewers enjoyed this downtime as a way to relax.
“Hey, looks like there’s a new male pilot joining Illuminati?”
“His name’s Luke. Apparently, he was Kai’s close friend before the Outsiders invaded.”
“Hold on… what the hell?! How dare some random guy grab Saya’s hand?! I’ll smash his face in!”
“Hmm, guess Saya is out of the running. Chloe seems like the true heroine now…”
“What?! A girl with black hair and dark intentions becoming the heroine of ‘Knight Shin Chronicle’? Are you kidding me?”
“…What did you say, huh?!”
Despite the heated debates among viewers, the story continued.
“Unknown lifeform detected ahead! It’s an Outsider!”
“Katkid Pistol Alert! Prepare for battle!”
“Commander, how do you wish to handle this Outsider?”
“Let’s see Luke handle it. I want to test his skills.”
“Understood!”
Luke took control of Unit 7 and faced the Outsider.
At this point, no one watching “Knight Shin Chronicle” expected anything unusual. After all, humanity had never lost to an Outsider in Episodes 1 through 16.
Of course, Luke would win too, right?
But then…
KRAK!
“What? Unit 7… Unit 7 is…”
“…Unit 7 completely silent. No signal from the pilot… Connection lost.”
Defeat.
The mighty Knight Shin, humanity’s ultimate weapon, fell to the Outsider. Worse yet, its head separated from its body.
But the situation worsened when the Outsider absorbed Unit 7, transforming into its likeness and amplifying its power beyond measurement.
The commander muttered quietly, “So, even a false god created by humans cannot defeat the true deity…”
“Huh?”
“Forget it. Deploy Knight Shin immediately. Launch Unit 0!”
“Understood!”
As Unit 0 prepared for launch, the background music shifted to a somber tone—a stark contrast to the usual upbeat soundtrack.
Kai hastily boarded Unit 0 to confront the transformed Outsider. Normally, he might have won, but now the Outsider contained his old friend Luke, distracting him during battle. Combined with the enhanced power from absorbing Unit 7, the Outsider overwhelmed Kai and Unit 0.
“…Unit 0 reached activity limit. Can’t move anymore. Magic depleted.”
“My God, is this really the end?”
Just then…
KEEEEEEEN!
A light rekindled within the drained Knight Shin, bringing Unit 0 back online. Once again, the berserk mode activated, saving Kai as it always did.
With overwhelming force, the berserk Unit 0 crushed the Outsider in mere seconds.
But Kai couldn’t celebrate like before.
“Stop! Stop! There’s my friend inside that thing! Please, stop!”
However…
KRAK!
Ignoring Kai’s plea, Knight Shin grabbed the half-absorbed head of Unit 7 and violently shattered it.
“…Ah.”
Viewers froze in shock at the sight. As blood dripped from Knight Shin’s hands, Kai screamed in anguish.
“AHHHHHHH!”
Onscreen, Kai’s distorted face wailed in despair. Meanwhile, Unit 0 gently caressed its core, as if protecting its precious child.
This scene reminded viewers of a mother fiercely guarding her offspring.
Even though it appeared demonic, covered in blood, Unit 0 also radiated nobility—an image akin to a holy painting depicting divine blessing.
A fusion of grotesque and sacred beauty left no one able to look away.
Finally, with Kai’s last scream echoing inside Knight Shin, the screen went dark.
Fade to black.
Silence filled the bar until the preview for the next episode began.
“…Is this really… an animation?”
What had they just witnessed?
*
“Kehehehe…”
The next morning, I sipped my coffee with a sinister grin. Betrayal, rogue mechas, glorified violence—all staples of chaotic mech dramas were packed into one episode.
Surely now, viewers would realize something was terribly wrong. The media praising “Knight Shin Chronicle” would snap out of it too.
Seizing this opportunity, I’d methodically build toward humanity’s downfall.
But then I opened the morning paper.
[“‘Knight Shin Chronicle’ ushers in a new artistic era; critics lavish praise…”]
[“If ‘Knight Shin Chronicle’ weren’t an anime, this Episode 17 would undoubtedly be a masterpiece of historical significance…”]
[“Episode 17 showcases flawless storytelling. Some worry the voice acting might hold the work back…”]
“…What the heck is going on here?”
